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University of Central Missouri Athletics

Caleb Nero driving baseline against Washburn
Andrew Mather Photography

Men's Basketball

Mules Basketball Hits the Road to Play Northeastern and Rogers State

Game 15: Central Missouri Mules (8-6, 3-5) vs Northeastern State RiverHawks (6-9, 1-8)
Thursday, Jan. 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. (NSU Event Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler)
Live Stats | Live Video | RiverHawks Roster
 
Game 16: Central Missouri Mules (8-6, 3-5) vs Rogers State Hillcats (8-7, 5-4)
Saturday, Jan. 20 | 3:30 p.m. | Claremore, Okla. (Claremore Expo Center)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler)
Live Stats | Live Video | Hillcats Roster
 
2023-24 UCM Mules Game Notes (PDF)
 
TIP OFF 
  • Central Missouri Mules basketball continues MIAA play with a pair of matchups on the road against the Northeastern State RiverHawks (Thursday, Jan. 18) at 7:30 p.m. from the NSU Event Center in Tahlequah, Okla. before taking on the Rogers State Hillcats (Saturday, Jan. 20) with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m. inside the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore, Okla.    
 
  
ON THE AIR 
  • Both games will be broadcasted on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with the voice of the Mules Greg Hassler on the call.
  • All games will be streamed through the MIAA Network on a pay-per-view basis with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening and 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
 
 
MEET THE MULES
  • Adam Bohac was named the 25th head coach in the 118-year history of Central Missouri Mules basketball in March of 2023 after 15 seasons as head coach of the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm where he had an overall record of 312-146 including 221-98 in GAC play. Bohac's teams have made nine post season appearances including four of the previous six seasons being in the NCAA Tournament. In 2022-23, the Storm reached the Sweet Sixteen and in 2019-20 were a two-seed in the tournament.  
  • The Mules are coming into 2023 with eleven of their 15 student-athletes having never stepped on the court for UCM.
  • Central Missouri returns four players from last year's team including guard Jordan Hayes and forwards Jack Chapman, Ben Fritz, and Yafet Haile.
  • The Mules brought in Division I transfers Caleb Nero (North Dakota) and Keith Kinner III (Niagara).
  • Other transfers include Jalen Knott (Alderson Broaddus), Terrance Broughton (Malone), Raeshaun Ambris (Moberly Area CC), and Josh Nwankwo (New Mexico JC).
  • The Mules added five freshman including guards KJ Vasser, Corey Skillman Jr., and Max Dowling, plus, forwards Noah Martin and Tim Jordan Jr.
 

LAST TIME OUT 
  • The Central Missouri Mules (8-6, 3-5) defeated the Emporia State Hornets (11-6, 4-5) by a final score of 60-53 on Saturday afternoon inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg. 
  • The Hornets led by one at the break extending their lead to as many as seven in the opening minutes of the second half, but Central Missouri responded with a 7-0 run tying the contest at 31 thanks to a Jalen Knott three-pointer. The Cleveland, Ohio native gave the Mules the lead for good with another three with seven minutes to go as the Mules captured their third straight win in MIAA play.
  • Four Mules finished the contest scoring double-figures including Knott (game-high 19 points, five rebounds, and a game-high three steals), forward Keith Kiner III (13 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high four assists), redshirt senior Jordan Hayes (10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds), and forward Tim Jordan Jr. (10 points and four rebounds) respectively.
  • Central Missouri outscored the Hornets in numerous categories including a 15-5 advantage off turnovers, 26-16 in the paint, and 9-8 in second chance as redshirt senior Caleb Nero had five points, guard Corey Skillman Jr. added two points, and junior Yafet Haile had two rebounds and one point for good measure.
 
  
UCM BY THE NUMBERS 
  • Through 14 games this season, the Mules are averaging 66 points per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the field, including 32 percent from beyond the arc and 72.8 percent from the charity stripe.
  • Central Missouri is averaging 33.9 rebounds, 10.9 assists, 5.9 steals, and 2.6 blocks per contest.
  • The Mules have four players averaging double figure scoring this season including redshirt senior Caleb Nero (13.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest), guard Jalen Knott (12.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game), redshirt senior Keith Kiner III (11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks per contest), and forward Tim Jordan Jr. (10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game). 
 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS NORTHEASTERN STATE
  • Ahead of Thursday night's matchup, this will be the 15th meeting between the Mules and RiverHawks with the all-time series tied at seven games a piece as NSU has a 4-3 record in Tahlequah.  
  • In the final game of the regular season last year, the RiverHawks won 86-47 led by Dillon Bailey's game-high 28 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
  • Central Missouri was led by redshirt junior Garrett Luinstra's nine points, four rebounds, two steals, and two assists while guard Amillion Buggs added eight points and two rebounds respectively.
 

SERIES HISTORY VS ROGERS STATE
  • Saturday's contest will be the sixth meeting between Central Missouri and RSU dating back to the 2019-20 season with the Hillcats holding a 3-2 advantage including a perfect 3-0 in Claremore.
  • In February of 2023, Rogers State defeated the Mules 65-59 inside the Claremore Expo Center led by Chris Whitaker's 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
  • UCM was led by redshirt senior Gaven Pinkley's game-high 20 points and three rebounds, while guard Trey Sides had 19 points and six rebounds for good measure.  
 
 UP NEXT
  • Central Missouri continues MIAA play on Thursday, Jan. 25, as they host the 24th-ranked Northwest Missouri Bearcats beginning at 7:30 p.m. for a Black Out themed night inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg.   

 
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Players Mentioned

Garrett Luinstra

#3 Garrett Luinstra

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Gaven Pinkley

#23 Gaven Pinkley

F
6' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Trey Sides

#11 Trey Sides

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Amillion Buggs

#20 Amillion Buggs

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

G/F
6' 7"
Junior
Ben Fritz

#33 Ben Fritz

F
6' 6"
Junior
Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

F
6' 9"
Junior
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

F
6' 7"
Freshman
KJ Vasser

#3 KJ Vasser

G
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Garrett Luinstra

#3 Garrett Luinstra

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
G
Gaven Pinkley

#23 Gaven Pinkley

6' 9"
Redshirt Senior
F
Trey Sides

#11 Trey Sides

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
G
Amillion Buggs

#20 Amillion Buggs

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Jack Chapman

#10 Jack Chapman

6' 7"
Junior
G/F
Ben Fritz

#33 Ben Fritz

6' 6"
Junior
F
Jordan Hayes

#5 Jordan Hayes

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
G
Yafet Haile

#13 Yafet Haile

6' 9"
Junior
F
Noah Martin

#21 Noah Martin

6' 7"
Freshman
F
KJ Vasser

#3 KJ Vasser

6' 0"
Freshman
G